jonnie

Thank you BE88,

His daughter is travelling to Thailand, next week to try and sort out arrangements over the ashes.

My advice was to book an appointment at the British Embassy in Bangkok who should have experience of dealing with this. They might be able to offer guidance on the process.

Many thanks.

Jonnie.

Hello everyone,

My friend's father has recently died and been cremated in Thailand (where he lived with his Thai spouse). 

His UK based family (daughter) is seeking agreement with his Thai wife, to bring back his ashes to the UK.

Having read the www.gov.uk webpage regarding death in Thailand.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-thailand

Bring the ashes home

If you choose local cremation and wish to take the ashes back to the UK yourself, you can usually do so.

Check with the airline about specific restrictions or requirements, for example whether you can carry the ashes as hand luggage. When leaving Thailand with human ashes you will need to:

·         show the death certificate

·         show the certificate of cremation

·         fill in a standard customs form when you arrive home

·         follow local rules about departing with human ashes

Please could any member offer insight into the last bullet point from the gov.uk webpage "follow local rules about departing with human ashes"

Does anyone have experience of following the "local rules" when travelling from Thailand to the UK with human ashes and please what are these rules?

Thank you for any advice you might be able to offer.  My friend is overwhelmed with the death of her dad and is struggling to find answers by herself. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Jonnie.

Thank you Jimmy.

Best wishes. Jonnie.

Hello, Is there anyone who could please share their experiences of changing their wife's maiden name in a Thai passport to her married surname.

I am not completely sure how to do this. We married and reside in the UK and therefore have a UK marriage certificate. We are due to visit Thailand soon for a holiday and would like to change her passport in BKK to my surname. I understand her Thai ID card must be first changed at her local Amphur.

What exactly will I need to do or obtain to firstly change the ID card?

I understand we will need to translate our UK marriage certificate to Thai because it is in English. The Consulate at Hull has quoted a £50 translation fee and £25 legalisation fee. Is it necessary to have this done in the UK or could the translation be done somewhere in BKK and then the legalisation done at Wireless Rd (who quote 1625B which is about the same as the £25 quoted depending on the exchange rate) Is a visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Chaeng Watthan Rd. BKK necessary irrespective of whether the translation takes place in the UK or BKK?

Any guidance on the correct hoops to jump through would be welcome.

Thank you. Jonnie.

Hello THAIJKD,

If you gave it on Friday, I think you will hear back today/tomorrow. Recently, we gave ours on a Weds, it came back the following Tuesday. Don't worry too much about the online tracking, it didn't work for me either. I telephoned the call centre to ask if there was a problem, she said it was a new system that wasn't fully right. She was able to search for me, requiring a passport number and date of birth. I found calling in the mornings much easier (9am Thailand). Afternoons could be upto 10 minutes before thet answered. The VFS staff were very helpful.

Good luck, I hope you have good news soon.

Jonnie.

I want to buy a condo in Phuket. Unfortunately the 49% foreigner owned freehold are already sold. I do not need finance and will transfer the money from the UK to my BKK bank account. What are my options? All the post I can find, talk about owning a condo freehold within the 49% foreigner freehold allocation. But this doesn't apply to my situation. Setting up a Thai company to purchase land for a house, I believe is technically illegal as it can be interpreted as trying to circumvent the Thai land laws. Does the same law apply to condominiums? i.e. setting up a Thai company to buy a condo because the 49% foreigner freehold allocation has gone. I do not want to break the law, likewise I do not want to risk loosing my investment. What should I do?

I don't subscribe to buying it and registering it in the name of a Thai lady who I trust. Is the Thai company route my only option?

I would be grateful for some advice. Thank you in anticipation.

Jonnie.

Recently since opening threads all the replies that follow on from a thread are listed similar to a family tree style. I much prefered all the replied messages being open and being able to scroll down each one. Now I have to click on eack link (reply) to read it. Very slow and a turn off. I have looked in "My Controls" but failed to see a solution. Does anyone know how I can change my viewing of posts?

Thank you in anticipation.

Jonnie

I have been an avid reader of posts since deciding to invite my girlfriend to the UK on a tourist visa. Everyone I spoke to poured cold water on the idea. Not married, unfair BKK embassy etc. I researched the process solely from the British Embassy web page and the many thaivisa posts. Scouse with his replies to other members has unknowingly been a tremendous help to me, whilst I collated my evidence and application. For this I thank him. I thought we had a water tight application although my girlfriend was nervous because of stories she had heard about the interviews. We stood inline, on the BKK pavement at 7am and I felt quite hopeful as she went through the gate. Unfortunately in my documentation, I made the mistake of printing only email titles and not the actual emails. The ECO decided she needed to go back in 10 days with the actual emails. At no time was the Embassy rude or disrespectful. I found them to be very supportive and (as you would expect) professional. Due to my oversight they could have rejected her application on the spot. I am grateful for their understanding and help and for the opportunity to remedy the situation. I said as much in a second letter of sponsorship/covering letter 10 days later. I think (know) the rest of the application and more importantly supporting evidence was in order and appreciate why they needed to see the full emails. If I can offer one piece of advice:- Applicants should leave nothing to chance. Thaivisa is a wealth of information, and I see Scouse as an integral part of our successful application. My girlfriend has been here now for 5 weeks and has had a great time. I was surprised to read a few post knocking Scouse recently, as far as I am concerned he is a Saint. It is also easy to knock the Embassy, who I think do a difficult job, with sometimes difficult people. I feel sorry for those who suffer the stress of a refusal and would urge them to keep trying, whilst making sure their paperwork is watertight.

Keep up the good work.

Jonnie.

Hello, my TG pays 4000baht a term so approx 12000 baht a year for her 5 year old son in a local Thai school. She "thinks" for a 14 year old it might be 6 or 7000 baht a term.

Sorry my post isn't more helpful.

Jonnie

hansnl43

Thank you very much for your help. I will try them.

Best wishes.

Jonnie.

Hi

Trust your friend has a UK Visa as nobody can issue a ticket without one!

TBWG

Her tourist visa was issued last week after an intial application and interview 10 days later. I would now like to buy her a ticket without it costing me the earth. Do you have any experience of travel agencies in Khon Kaen- good or bad?.

Jonnie

Hello, I am unfamiliar with KK and the surrounding area hence this post. My Thai friend needs to buy an international airline ticket but is unsure where to go. She lives in Ban Phai but travels to KK regularly. She doesn't have a visa card, hence cannot make a telephone or internet booking. We asked the price of tickets with Eva air and Thai air at Bangkok airport but 60000 baht to London is excessive. Thai air told me that if she can buy a ticket through an agency, it would be considerably cheaper than at the airport. Sounds reasonably, please could anyone recommend a travel shop you have used in the KK area. I would be grateful if you could also include where it is and specify a land mark etc. I am in the UK and trying to advise my friend. Thank you in anticipation.

Jonnie.

Thank you Gents. Very helpful.

Regards.

Jonnie

Hello, I am planning a journey from Ban Phai (or possibly Khon Kaen)to Bangkok mid July. I have managed to find the train timetable but nothing for the buses.

I would be grateful if anybody is aware of the time the buses depart KK and arrive BKK. I know BKK has a number of Bus terminals, which one services the north east of Thailand?

I am hoping to tie the BKK arrival time up with the Air Asia service to Phuket and hence avoid staying the night in BKK. So the arrival time in BKK would be most helpful. I am guessing the fare would be approx. 300 baht?

Thank you in anticipation. Jonnie

Hello, I am planning a journey from Ban Phai (or possibly Khon Kaen)to Bangkok mid July. I have managed to find the train timetable but nothing for the buses.

I would be grateful if anybody is aware of the time the buses depart KK and arrives BKK. I know BKK has a number of Bus terminals, which one services the north east of Thailand?

I am hoping to tie the BKK arrival time up with the Air Asia service to Phuket and hence avoid staying the night in BKK. So the arrival time in BKK would be most helpful. I am guessing the fare would be approx. 300 baht?

Thank you in anticipation. Jonnie

Hello, please can you update me on Dulwich college? Why is it the "end of Dulwich" They were only advertising for staff several months ago. Where has this information come from? I was under the impression (from their web pages) that the Dulwich brand was expanding. Am I wrong?

Jonnie

Also have heard from a friend in the real estate business that the major market for Phuket property is from Hong-Kong and Singapore. Apparently, one of the main reasons they have been buying was that Phuket had a proper international school with good facilities. My friend reckons that a large portion of this market may now disappear due to the end of Dulwich.

Excellent advice TH.

Thank you. Will do.

Jonnie.

Thank you Crossy for your prompt reply.

Jonnie.

Malaysia is no problem, no visa required. Enjoy, KL is a great place to visit.

Hello, I intend taking advantage of Air Asia's fantastic prices and want to fly from Phuket to Kuala Lumpur returning after 4 days. As a British national and passport holder I know I will receive a 3 month stamp on entry at KL airport. My questions relates to my Thai girlfriend, who I would like to travel with me. ( she has a valid Thai passport).

Are Thai nationals allowed to travel freely to Malaysia, or do they need a visa beforehand?

I have been unsuccessful so far finding this out.

Any advice would be appreciated, particularly from anyone who has made a similar trip. It is my impression that neighbouring countries "do not encourage" Thais to travel, am I wrong to assume this?

I want to avoid arriving at KL airport and finding there is a problem because she doesn't have the correct paperwork.

Thank you.

Jonnie.